This morning was not a good one with Jake.
Are mornings ever good with teenagers? I mean first, you have to practically grab their hairy adolescent legs and try to pry them out of bed while they cling to their blankets and moan like the world is ending. Wasn’t it great when they were five and you could literally pick them up out of bed?
Then they grumble and complain, wolf down enough cereal to feed 5 small children, and…Jake? Back to his room. He closes the door, cranks his heavy metal music, and won’t come out until it’s time. TO. GO. NOW!!
“But I’m reaaaaaaady…what’s your problem? Why are you nagging me? We won’t be late. I just need to brush my teeth, and collect up my homework, and where’s my shoes? Oh ya and I forgot my hat. And my lunch….”
Meanwhile I’m standing at the door, car keys in my hand and one eye on the clock thinking, “I’m gonna be late, I’m gonna be late, it’s this kid’s fault and my God I even work at his school this so shouldn’t be happening.”
This morning was one of those mornings, and as we finally got in the car I began to try to calmly explain to Jake how his method of getting ready in the morning stresses me out.
The result was not what I expected.
“Why can’t we just have a conversation with out you turning it into an argument?”
(insert growly, snarked up teenager response)
(Next, a bitchy Mom response because I was ready to blow a gasket)
When we finally pulled into the parking lot, it pretty much goes without saying that when he decided that he must. tie. shoes. NOW I was unsympathetic. I’m gonna be late!
I dumped all his stuff in the parking lot, kicked him out of the car, locked it up, and walked away, ignoring his protests. HA! That will be the last time he’ll do THAT, I thought. Natural consequences. Maybe I should let him walk next time. I imagine he’s cursing at me while my back is turned. In my head, I curse back. I am one seriously irritated parent.
Kids. The source of frustration for parents everywhere.
A few minutes later in the staff room I hear his name over the loudspeakers, calling him to the office.
What the heck is that all about? Is he in trouble? Ah, whatever. I fix myself some tea and put my feet up, getting charged to face the day with a pile of 14 year olds.
“Why is Jake leaving the school?” a friend asks
“What?” suddenly I’m sitting upright and the tea is forgotten.
“I saw Jake leave the school with a woman just a few minutes ago. Does he have classes elsewhere?”
My eyes widen. Leave? Jake? There’s no body he should be leaving with. Suddenly, the anger and irritation of only a few minutes earlier is gone and I bolt out of the staff room to save my son from the crazy woman who has come to kidnap him from his school!!!!
Right outside the door is Jake, holding a blue package. He sees my panicked face and gives me a funny look.
“Where were you? Where’d you go? What’s that? What IS GOING ON?”
Jake waves the blue package and starts to giggle.
“It’s your Mother’s Day gift. I ordered it from someone and they were dropping it off.”
What? Mother’s day? He actually remembered, and bought me a gift? On his own? With his own money and no involvement from Dad? Suddenly I feel a bit guilty. Maybe I was a bit hard on him this morning, after all I know I’m a bit intense and can be snarky myself….
“Oh…and, Mom?”
“Yes, Jake?” My voice is all in tender, loving Mom-mode now. The entire frustrating morning is forgotten. My sweet boy, I can’t believe he actually remembered Mother’s Day and planned ahead to get me a gift.
“I need a $10 advance on my allowance to pay for it by the end of the week.”
©Scattered Mom 2009
I loved this story! Teens are tough on the outside and emotionally they are soooo challenging but in the end they LOVE us no matter what. Even when they resent us the most!
Thanks for sharing!
He totally caught me by surprise with that one. I’ll have to share what the gift is once I open it.